Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Beware of Organic Junk Food

Walk down the aisles of a natural food store and you'll find a variety of organic foods, many of which are healthy whole foods, such as organic fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, dairy products, nuts, and seeds.

Unfortunately, the organic inventory doesn't stop there. Increasingly, stores are widening their organic food choices to include more processed foods, such as organic jelly beans, potato chips, cookies, and even vodka. What's wrong with all of these organic food choices? It's a matter of perception: Surveys consistently show that people perceive organic foods--no matter what they are--to be healthier than their conventional counterparts.

"Organic is on so many food packages of highly processed foods," says Andrea Giancoli, M.P.H., R.D., dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Washington, D.C. "I find that people see 'organic' on a food label and it doesn't seem to matter what the actual food is; they think it is healthful.

"Organic means that the food is farmed in a different way, which is great for the planet, but that doesn't mean it's always better for you," says Giancoli. If you see "organic" on the food label for chocolate chip cookies, all it means is that the ingredients, such as wheat, sugar, chocolate, and butter, are cultivated organically. It doesn't mean that the nutrition profile of calories, fat, sugar, and sodium in those cookies is any better than the regular chocolate chip cookies across the aisle.

Giancoli explains that many organic junk foods are made of highly processed ingredients such as refined white flour, sugars, salt, and oils, offering you a great deal of calories and sodium with little nutrient payback.

Get Real! - as in Real Food. This blog is a Fusion between Rustic Food and Modern Ideals. Mia shares original recipes and recent articles that support her beliefs. Organic, Non-GMO, Grass-Fed, Wild, Artisan, Pastured, Local, Gluten-Free, No-MSG, Paleo, etc. - are common topics being explored here. Check back often or follow her on Facebook to keep an eye on her latest blog posts and make sure to join in the conversation!

Early Inspiration

As a young girl living on a small island in the South Pacific, Mia frequently visited her beloved grandma who lived in a tiny countryside village. Though her grandma only had a tiny kitchen with no refrigerator and a makeshift outdoor stove, she enjoyed cooking everything from scratch using fresh ingredients that she herself organically raised and farmed... with lots of love!

Mia has long since sampled a wide variety of unique foods from around the world, but her inspiration, passion, and appreciation for REAL food still originates from her Grandma. Mia tries to source everything from local farms or farmers markets when possible, using mostly fresh, wild, pastured, or organic ingredients.

Many thanks for visiting Mia's Domain. Be sure to visit often, enjoy...and spread the word!